Genesis WEC/IMSA Hypercar unveiled
Genesis Magma Racing has unveiled its vividly orange and full-scale GMR-001 LMDh Hypercar that will see Hyundai’s luxury Genesis brand as the first South Korean make to feature at the Le Mans 24 in 2026.
The unveiling for the New York International Auto Show outlines the bold appearance of the machine that will take on both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA Sportscar Championship in 2026, with the brand’s philosophy of “Athletic Elegance” on full display.
The full scale model of the GMR-001 LMDh hypercar
The GMR-001’s will start testing in the middle of the year, with André Lotterer (three time Le Mans winner) and Pipo Derani (four time Sebring winner) having already been named as the teams inaugural drivers, whilst former racing legend Jacky Ickx will also be part of the program as an expertise consultant.
While the technical specifications of the GMR-001 haven’t been fully released, Genesis chose ORECA as its chassis base, while it will be a hybrid rear-wheel drive set up capped at the rulebook 671hp.
The internal combustion engine component will be a twin-turbo V8 – and in a nod to Hyundai’s WRC rally engine, it will combine two merged 1.6L four cylinder engines.
And in highlighting the teams uniquely South Korean heritage, it will also visibly have the Korean Hangeul lettering for “Magma” (마그마), with its consonants “ㅁ, ㄱ, ㅁ” forming geometric motifs that echo the team’s logo.
With the LMDh ruleset allowing full brand identity on top of a determined chassis choice, Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis, explained the aesthetic genetics of the GRM-001.
“The GMR-001 Hypercar, like every race car, is a sculpture designed by the constraints of efficiency and performance – combined with the design DNA of Genesis – the brand with the Two Lines” said Donckerwolke.
The distinct double lines of the Genesis brand features at the rear of the GMR-001
“The livery is an orchestration of the tension and balance of the distinctly Korean character of the brand with gradients from Magma orange to dark red emphasising the high temperature of the powertrain.
“And the colour gradients from light to dark of the Magma writing in Hangeul is an optical doppler effect that expresses the glorious sound of the V8 Twin Turbo engine in motion.”
Cyril Abiteboul, President of Hyundai Motorsport, and the team principal of Genesis Magma Racing, emphasised that the Magma team is keen to forge an endurance legacy.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Genesis Magma Racing as we unveil the GMR-001 Hypercar, along with our striking livery and race suits,” Abiteboul said.
The Genesis brand will be the first South Korean based make to appear at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2026
“As we gear up for our 2026 WEC and 2027 IMSA campaigns, we are not merely assembling a race team; we are forging a legacy. Each day brings us one step closer to realising the full potential of Genesis in the world of motorsports.”
Hyundai will join Toyota, Ferrari, Alpine, Porsche, Cadillac, Peugeot, Aston Martin and BMW, with McLaren and Ford to join in 2027.
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